Believe it or not, we’ve reached the halfway point of the regular season and Coach Brian Kelly is seeing signs of the offense playing up to its potential.
The Tigers had 420 yards of offense in the 20-10 win over South Carolina. That’s the highest total they’ve had this season against an FBS opponent. LSU would have had more points if it did not have the two red zone turnovers.
"I was pleased with some things that we did that we have not been doing. We ran the ball with more effectiveness and got the ball to Trey’Dez Green," Kelly said. "I was pleased about that.”
“But, certainly, you can’t get down on the one-yard line three times and come up with three points. And I think we all know that.”
Kelly liked how his offensive line fired off the ball to help open up the running game. He said the next step is sustaining blocks.
“We got to hold on to those blocks, it can’t be just contact and that’s it,” Kelly said.
Right tackle Weston Davis continues to grade out poorly on the Pro Football Focus grades.
Kelly was asked about moving Josh Thompson to right tackle. Tompson started two years ago at right tackle at Northwestern.
But Kelly said they are sticking with Davis. BK also complemented Davis on his pass blocking as he went up against South Carolina’s standout pass rusher Dylan Stewart.
However, Kelly said Davis must improve his run blocking.
"We've got to get him better in the run game, and that's where at times you want to put Josh [Thompson] out there, but we're gonna live with him. And I'm proud of him. He's growing. He's learning this game."
“O-line awareness, o-line instincts, some have it, some don’t, some you really got to give them reps and that’s what this is about, he’s got to play.”
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier also looked more like himself against South Carolina, throwing for 254 yards and two touchdowns.
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"He plays with a swagger, and he's better with a swagger," Kelly said of Nussmeier. "Don't know that he had the previous weeks. I thought he was a little bit robotic, but I liked the version of Garrett Nussmeier we saw. He was a lot more confident, he was a lot more active in the pocket, he had an opportunity to run a couple of times that’s the version we want, we want to clean up what I would call uncharacteristic mistakes,” Kelly said.
Nussmeier also threw two interceptions.
One of the interceptions came late in the third quarter at the 1-yard line as Carolina safety Peyton Williams picked off Nussmeier as he was trying to get the ball to Trey’Dez Green.
“I think that was an aberration,” Kelly said. “And something that he would immediately say, ‘I should’ve had my eyes on that safety because that’s my read.”
The Tigers will face Vanderbilt this Saturday. Another game for LSU to take a step in the right direction. Vandy is ranked 12th in the SEC in pass defense.